Absolutely Fabulous Glamping for Hen Party groups

St. Swithins Cottage now brings to you Glamorous Camping or Glamping for Hen Party Weekends. It's Absolutely Fabulous and Ooh it's just so pink!

The really big development in 2012 is our offer of what we are terming "Absolutely Fabulous Glamping".

Held in St. Swithins' four acre paddock adjacent to the cottage it's specifically aimed at the Glamorous Camping for Hen Party Weekends marketplace and thus it's all going to be absolutely fabulous and very, very pink!

We are investing in only the best bell tents that money can buy and they are going to be pink of course! Inside the tents our aim is to give you both electricity and internet connectivity along with proper matresses, mirrors (of course), heating and many more treats to make it an absolutely fabulous event.



When you think of the fun of having a Hen Party Weekend where you go glamping and couple that with the facilities offered via our huge Deano's Art 'n' Sound Barn you really have the perfect opportunity to have an amazingly different Hen Party!

The showers are going to be pink and even the toilet units are going to be pink as well! I did say it's going very pink so all you will need to bring are your own pink GHD's!

Booking now for June 2012 onwards!

Click on the computerised models below to get a better feel for what is on the cards.

Hen Party Background:

In addition to our glamping venture we have three Hen Party properties, all of similar ilk, in our portfolio viz. St. Swithins Cottage, Ashridge Farmhouse and The Manor of Hurst.

All three properties are situated betwixt Windsor, Ascot & Henley-on-Thames. However our nearest towns are Wokingham and Twyford with Reading centre but 7 miles away. Also Heathrow T5 is accessible in under 30 mins as is London Paddington.

We are fast becoming the most successful accommodation providers to the "Sophisticated Hen Party" market.

Please just take a couple of minutes to view what people are saying about us in TripAdvisor.

We have endeavoured to think of all your needs and as such we have the issue of transport covered too.

Pricing:

Firstly, in the case of a Hen Party, you can reserve two or more of our, aptly named, Hen Coops via a simple non-refundable deposit of £50.00 with the balance owing payable on the day of arrival in cash. Deposit details for other groups is available on request.

Our glamping programme is priced at £50.00 per head per night based on both a minimum of 2 nights and a party size of 10 or financial equivalent thereof.

As can be seen from item 11. in our Questions & Answers below we have identified that we can easily accommodate 5 full sized single mattresses into each tent. You can, at a push, manage 6 but definitely no more.

So if your party size is 10 to 12 then we can manage you in two tents. The moment you go to a party size of 13 or more you definitely need a third tent!

Hey now you are worried about the cost implication - but don't!

For our Absolutely Fabulous Glamping project we have an Absolutely Fabulous Pricing Policy! As previously mentioned your party of 12 can be accommodated in the two tents but it can, just as easily, be accommodated in three tents for exactly the same price!

Our only restriction is a minimum of 4 per tent.

Hey just to put that in some sort of perspective have a quick look at one of our closest competitors polestars whose pricing is, and to quote, as follows:

Two days (one night) for just £180 per person (minimum 10 people)
Wow isn't that so absolutely fabulous of them one whole night for £180.00 as opposed to two nights for £100.00 from us? The phrase BOGOF sort of springs to mind!

Additionally there is a deposit for each tent to ensure there is the minimum of damage. So on the day of arrival a fully refundable deposit of £100.00 per tent is due i.e. £20.00 per head based on 5 in each tent.

Arrival & Departure Times:

Please don't worry about the times stated in my T's & C's page as that doesn't refer to you! No - that is for my midweek B&B customers only.

Gosh no girls! You are much better than that and as L'Oreal would say "Because you're worth it" we have developed your weekend around total flexibility.

We like you to arrive mid to early afternoon on the Friday usually somewhere around 14:00 ; but that can be tailored to fit in with your requirements and can be as early as 12:00.

On Sunday when you want to leave don't in any way think you have to be out by 10:00 am! No take your time and if you wish to leave by mid to late afternoon just agree it beforehand and it will all be fine.

Hen Party Activities:

Hey just because you are Glamping as opposed to staying in one of the fabulous properties doesn't mean to say that you can't use the same services also.

Not in the slightest if you want to avail yourself of the services of our international cocktail man of mystery Darren "The Dazzler" or maybe have an afternoon of pure pampering from the fabulous Monica & Shelby you can, easily, in the adjacent Deano's Art 'n' Sound Barn.

So much is possible when you utilise the massive space afforded to you in Deano's Art 'n' Sound Barn and as time progresses the area to the right entitled Recommended by Dean: will grow and grow and grow with everything from street dancing to belly dancing and many more activities besides.

Local Amenities:

We have three fabulous little local shops, Butcher, Baker & Convenience Store, which are just a few hundred yards away and should be able to provide you with, virtually, all your requirements from savoury bites to sweet pastries; cigarettes & booze to magazines & newspapers; chocolate & crisps to tins of soup & tins of beans and sausages & burgers to joints of beef & poultry. Something for everyone!

Videos:

Below are some videos of The Green Man PH (at the top of the drive), St. Swithins Cottage, Deano's Art 'n' Sound Barn, and St. Swithins Paddock where the glamping will take place.

Please note that Dean is neither a professional camera man, actor or gifted theatrical orator but we hope these videos will help you picture where St. Swithins Cottage is and what our plans are.

Please also note that in the videos the location of both the toilets and the showers is described at one end of Deano's Art 'n' Sound Barn which has now been revised to the opposite end of Deano's Art 'n' Sound Barn!

Finally please bear in mind that some of these were shot on a cold, damp, wet and blustery day in mid January 2012!

Unlike usual convention I will add the latest videos detailing progress to the end of the group below. So please, please, please keep looking back to see how things are coming on as this is just going to be such a blast!

Questions & Answers:

Below are some questions from interested parties in pink and our answers.

1. Will there will mirrors inside the tents so that we can see ourselves when we get ready?
There will be four plastic safety mirrors in each tent with rounded corners measuring 20cm square.

2. How many plug sockets will there be in each tent?

It is our intention to have a post of some sort outside each tent which will have a waterproof socket on it. From this we will run a four way extension cable into each tent.

3. What happens if it rains? Is there any sort of communal dry indoor area that we would be welcome to use?

As you can see above in the computer generated models you will be adjacent to our huge Deano's Art 'n' Sound Barn which can overcome the rain scenario whilst enjoying the artwork. Your entire group can have access to this facility for £50.00 per day from 09:00 to 19:00.

Inside Deano's Art 'n' Sound Barn you will have access to the bar area and additionally you can make use of a fridge, a freezer, a microwave and a kettle as this is absolutely fabulous glamping after all!

And do forget to look at all the absolutely fabulous artwork that festoons this most intriguing edifice!!!

4. How many showers will there be?

Initially there will be two showers but they will be in pink.

5. How many toilets will there be?

Initially there will be three toilets but they will be in pink.

6. How far from the tents will the toilets be located?

The tents will be virtually adjacent to them as can be seen from the 3D computerised models above.

7. Will the toilets be lit at night?

There are lights in both the toilets and the showers. Additionally and again as can be seen from the 3D computerised models above both the toilets and the showers will have fencing around them and there will be a safety lights on that fencing as well.

8. Will we need to bring our own bedding (eg. sleeping bags, pillows)

All the mattresses, mattress protectors, pillows, pillow protectors, pillow cases, duvets and duvet covers. You will be required to bring your own towels.

The toilets will be fully stocked with soap, toilet rolls, make-up wipes and bins. We will also supply soap for both the toilets and showers but you will have to supply your own shampoo, etc.

9. What sort of lighting will there be inside the tents for when it gets dark?

Each tent will have a double clear tea light chandelier. Other than that you will have power and I recommend torches.

10. We are thinking of holding the hen do on a Saturday and a Sunday. Might it therefore be possible to camp the first night and use St. Swithins Cottage on the following night?

There is a minimum stay of two nights (or financial equivalent thereof) for the glamping.

11. How many people can each tent accommodate?

Well we laid out one of the tents today, 6th March 2012, on a lovely March day and we were easily able to place 5 full sized single mattresses into it. So 5 per tent, as previously envisaged, is fine; at a push you could manage 6 but definitely no more.

So if your party size is 10 to 12 then we can manage you in two tents. The moment you go to a party size of 13 or more you definitely need a third tent!

Hey now you are worried about the cost implication - but don't!

For our Absolutely Fabulous Glamping project we have an Absolutely Fabulous Pricing Policy! As previously mentioned your party of 12 can be accommodated in the two tents but it can, just as easily, be accommodated in three tents for exactly the same price!

Our only restriction is a minimum of 4 per tent.

12. What flooring is inside the tent?

First of all the fully waterproof groundsheet is a grey zipped 540g PVC mesh. The reason it is zipped is so that in full sun you can roll up the sides and lounge about enjoying the breezy shade beneath.

On top of that fully waterproof layer we then add The ultimate luxury flooring for your bell tent!

Each tent comes with two half moon coir matts, specifically made in India to our suppliers own design, enabling the full coverage of your floor area. They are durable, versatile and good looking whilst at the same time creating a great layer of insulation between you and the floor of your tent. The outer curved edges are bound with dark brown binding and the straight edges are stitched.

Yet another reason why we call it Absolutely Fabulous Glamping!

13. Do you allow or are there facilities for camp fires and BBQs?

God yes! My whole concept is to try and create a "Ging gang goolie goolie goolie goolie whatcha,. Ging gang goo, Ging gang goo," natural, rustic feeling where everyone can relax, eat, drink and warm themselves round a lovely roaring camp fire!

We already have two large Fire Pit come BBQ units which will sit centrally in a communal separate area. These Fire Pit areas will be full of wood chippings and will be surrounded by large tree stumps and logs on which you can sit, eat & drink and simply enjoy the heat from the roaring fire.

Yet again I cannot see this being anything other than Absolutely Fabulous!

On top of that you are more than welcome to bring your own BBQ's, if you so wish, and those disposable ones are, from my experience, both really good for cooking and easy to carry.

14. You mention in your various videos about the barn having a bar and comfy chairs and a pizza oven. Will this be ready by June 2012? It sounds great!

The bar is already there and is absolutely fabulous. It's where you will see one of our graffiti artists pieces of work entitled "Deano's Art 'n' Sound". Hence where the name for the barn comes from and throughout it you will see various pieces of artwork from numerous artists who have worked or are working from there.

The base to the pizza oven is being constructed as of February 2012. So as of March 2012 the pizza oven should be up and running as the oven is waiting to be delivered. The pizza oven is the weight of 8 fully grown men!

We also have a pizza chef on board and outside pub picnic tables. Our plan is to offer a pizza cooking course whereby you can learn how to make a pizza and then eat it for dinner inside or outside the barn - weather dependent.

There will be an extra charge for using the pizza oven to cover both the teaching and catering element but it will be reasonable and will be dependent on numbers.

So just watch this space for more information on our "Absolutely Fabulous Glamping" project.